THE SIERRA NEVADA AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MOUNTAINEERING AND CLIMBING PAGE

FREEDOM OF THE HILLS

Welcome to the sharp end. My life on the sharp end started over 25 years ago when as a boy I started my wilderness education by hiking and climbing around in woods around Big Bear Lake California. And since then has come full circle, Having spent time almost every summer for the past 19 years hiking the trails of the Sierra Nevada. And in the last five years set my sights on Mountain Peaks ( The Bigger the Better) My Climbs:

Mt. Whitney (14,494) The Mountaineer's Route Class 3
Mt. Lyel (13,114) The Lyell Glacier and up the East Arete class 3
Mt. Star (12,870) West Slope Class 2
Pyramid Peak (12,866) North Ridge Class 3
Mt Ritter (13,157} Southeast Glacier Class 3

I have hiked over many passes in the Sierra also including:

Forester Pass (13,200)
Harrison Pass (12,720) Class 2
Glen Pass (11,980)
Taboose Pass(11,360)
Mather Pass (12,080)
Bishop Pass (12,000)
Lamarck Col. (12,640)
Piute Pass (11,400)
Mono Pass (12000)
Iland Pass (10,250)
Donohue Pass (11,050)
Puppet Pass (12000)

I have also done alot of hiking and climbing in the mountains of Southern California also. There are many great hikes and climbs here, Here is a short list:

Mt. San Gorgonio (11,520)
Mt. San Jacinto (10,804)
Mt. San Antonio {AKA- Mt. Baldy} (10,064)

The mountains of California are probably some of the most diverse mountain ranges in the world.There are five different zones and you can find these zones in both the Sierra and in Southern California and they are:

UPPER SONORAN This zone lies between 500 and 2,000 feet.
TRANSITION This zone lies between 2,000 and 5,000 feet
CANADIAN This zone lies between 5,000 and 10,000 feet.
HUDSONIAN This zone lies btween 10,000 and 11,500 feet
ARCTIC or ALPINE This zone lies between 11,500 feet and up

The zones listed above are best experienced on the western slopes of the Sierra but it is in the most part a long hike from the trail heads on the west side of the Sierra up to the Alpine zone {where all the real climbs are}.The east side on the other hand, rises in places 6,000 feet or more in less then six miles of trail hiking, but it also has the highest trail heads to start out from. The highest being Mosquito Flat trail head at 10,250 feet. So if your looking for a short fast route into the high country or mabe not so fast the east side is for you. But if you like that long and in the most part gentle hike then head for the west slope.Either way you go it is well worth it because getting out in the backcounty is one of the most moving experinces that one can have,even more so if you have what it takes to climb any of the fine peaks that grace these rugged mountians.

CLIMBING AND MOUNTAINEERING DEFINITIONS - Lern the slang of climbing here

THE BACKCOUNTRY PHOTO ARCHIVE -Check out some of my many photos of the mountains

CLIMBING ROUTE PROFILES

WHAT THOSE NUMBERS REALLY MEAN, THE RATINGS.

Links to other sites on the Web

GORDIE'S RAMBLINGS IN THE SIERRA NEVADA - Great site with lots of links
TET'S MOUNTAIN CORNER - Another great site with route profiles and some good links
SIERRA ALPINE CLIMBING SOCIETY - This site has a lot of links and info dealing with the sierra
Mt. WHITNEY HOME PAGE - This is a good site for climbing and hiking Mt. Whitney
NATIONAL PARK SEVERES Mt. WHITNEY PAGE - This is the Nat. Park Severes Whitney page
INYO NAT. FOREST RESERVATIONS - Find out here about making backcountry reservations in the inyo Nat. Forest
N.P.S. YOSEMITE PAGE - A place to find out the low down on Yosemite Nat. Park
JOHN MUIR TRAIL PAGE - Want to hike the John Muir trail, then check out this site
EASTERN SIERRA WEB PAGE - Go here to get the low down on the Eastern Sierras
SIERRA WEATHER - Need a weather report for your next outing? then click on this one
EASTERN SIERRA AVALANCHE BULLETIN - Heading out inthe snow if so check out this site so you dont get caught up to your neck in snow
ROCK LIST - Want some more links on climbing then go here and it will keep you busy for a long time
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